Intermittent photographic print washer



Feb. 1, 1949. c, MACE 2,460,425

INTERMITTENT PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT WASHER Filed March 5, 1946 JNVENTOR. 6/1/4945 [MACZ Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERMITTENT PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT WASHER 5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a photographic print washer, and has for its principal object the pro- Vision of a device of this character which will automatically subject the prints to any desired number of changes of Water without attention on the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it will be impossible for prints to adhere to or pile on the sides and bottom of the washing tank, and in which the prints will be constantly kept separated from each other so as to obtain complete surface washing of each and every print.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved print washer;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section therethrough, taken on the line 2--2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 33,Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a counting device employed in the improved washer;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the counting device, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken on the line 66, Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating a waterdistributing nozzleemployed in the improved print washer.

The improved photographic print washer employs a washing tank l0, preferably circular in shape. The tank is supported upon a tunnel tube H secured to, and extending diametrically across, the bottom thereof and on two sidewardly extending supporting tubes l2. The tunnel tube H is open at one of its extremities, which forms the discharge from the tank, and extends upwardly alongside the tank 10 at its other extremityto form a hydraulic weight chamber 3.

The tank I is provided with a central water discharge opening l4 closed by means of a weighted mushroom valve 15. The stem of the valve I extends downwardly through the discharge opening l4 into the tunnel tube II, where it is connected to the extremity of a rocking arm IS. The rocking arm i6 is pivotally mounted in a mounting bracket ll extending downwardly from the bottom of the tank It and extends to a position in the weight chamber l3.

A vertically positioned weight cup rod l8 extends through the extremity of the rocking arm it in the chamber 13. An open-topped weight cup 19 is mounted on the rod i8 and rests upon the latter extremity of the rocking arm IS. The cup 19 is provided with a bleed hole 28 in or near its bottom. The upper extremity of the cup [9 is positioned immediately below an overflow opening 2| in the upper portion of the tank Hi.

It can be readily seen that if the tank It is filled with water, the water will overflow through the overflow opening 2! into the cup l9. Since the volume of the overflow exceeds the volume discharging through the bleed hole 26, the cup I!) will gradually fill with water. Where the weight of the water in the cup is exceeds the weight on the mushroom valve [5, the latter will be pushed from its seat over the discharge opening 15, allowing the weight cup Hi to fall.

The water will now flow from the tank it through the discharge opening l4 and will drain from the cup l9 through the bleed hole 29. As soon as the water has drained from the cup it, the weight of the valve [5 will force it closed again, lifting the weight cup [9 to its former position. The size of the bleed hole 29 is such that the cup l9 will not empty until after all of the water has been discharged from the tank.

The water is admitted to the tank through a vertical, removable nozzle tube 22 which can be clamped against the inside wall of the tank at any desired circumferential position by means of an L-shaped. tank clamp 23 provided with a clamp screw 24. The bottom of the nozzle tube 22 is sealed. The upper extremity of the nozzle tube 22 terminates in a hose nipple 25 to which any suitable supply hose 33 may be attached.

A plurality of relatively narrow, inclined discharge slits 28 are formed in one side of a nozzle tube 22 in vertically spaced relation, and a horizontal bottom slit 2'! is similarly formed therein. For the purposes of illustration, the slits 28 and 21 in Fig. '7 have been turned away from the side wall of the tank Hi. In actual use they are turned to a tangential position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The tank it) contains a removable, circular print tray 28, forming a false bottom therein. The sides of the print tray are formed from wire cloth 29 of a relatively coarse mesh. The upper edge of the wire cloth sides is bordered by means of an angle strip 30 which extends outwardly therefrom into contact with the wall of the tank to maintain the wire cloth in uniform, spaced relation thereto. The wire cloth sides are cut away at one point, as indicated at 3|, to leave space for the insertion of the nozzle tube 22.

The print tray 28 is supported above the bottom of the tank I0 upon radially extending spacing members. The top "of .the print tray and the horizontal-slit 2'! in'the nozzle tube are so positioned that, when the entire device is assembled, the latter split will be positioned immediately above the print tray 28.. This i s;.-.an important feature, since it maintains a sheet: of

. rapidly moving water immediately over the bottom of the tray, which prevents prints from descending to, and adhering: on, thebottom of the tray 28. It also prevents splashing as the tray is filling, since the fan-shaped jets from-the inclined slits 26 are absorbed by the moving sheet .Qf=.wat,er1on the-bottom. The purpose" of t .tplmal-itv of inclined s ts :is to provide a f nshaped jet immediately above the surface of the water at all levels as'the tank fills; These'thin,

ape Je s separate: theiprints and maintain :themseparated by maintaining strata of d rin r velocity in the tank. 7

. Thewirecloth 2.9 serves an important purpose in that it prevents prints from adhering to the sides ofwthetahk. 10. It impossible for the printsnto -:'adhere to the Wile-910th, s n e a r n efihigh velocity water is maintained between the wire cloth and the tank .wallwhieh flows through the interstices :tzher eirte ie ce he prints away therefrom. V

- .The radially extend n par tion members a 1 serve awpurposebrinaddition to supporting the print-tray 2.8.; 1 It was found that the whirling water inrtheibottomof'. the tank would remain at the. periphery-thereof due to centrifugal force :and would not how to thedischar e op nin until thevwaters vclocitywhad subsided; These partitionmembers however, break up this circularcflow belowthe tray 2859 that the water will rapidly discharge throughwthe openin M.

' It. is, of-course'. desirable teprovide some means uforpindicating how many timesthe water in the tank: has changed. This is "accomplished in this improved'print washerbuproviding a change counter. The counter consists ofa number disc 73.4 mounted to rotate about a :bushing 35. The numbercdisc carries ten numbers which are in- .dividuallyyisible; through an opening 36 in a cap member 31.-. Between each number on the 'disc .35, the edge of the disc is slotted and turned upwardly. tOfLOXm a ratchetztooth 38. A ratchet 31911119BXtEIIQSaGIOSSLthG. face. of "the disc to a point to successively; engagemthe. teeth 38. The "r-atchet'arm 3.9 piloted-at All .on the bushing -.r35.and is constantlyiretumed after each'stroke by means of a spring 4 l.

.. Theratchet-zarm isxactuated by means of an 7 inverted COIleiAZLWhiCh is -t l1rea.ded.onthe upper extremity: .of the .;w.ei ght cup rod I-S-and maybe locked in" the proper position thereon by means I of a jam nut .44. The .cone AZridesin the bushing "ran'd provides a guide forwthe, upper extremity of theweight..eup-rodLlB. "Thespring 41 holds 'the' ratchet lever fiflsag-ainstthe. surface ofthe conical member 42 sothat each time the Weight cup"!!! drops, the surface-oft the cone 42 will swing. the:. ratchet. member 3.9; one stroke to; revolve' the number :disc' 35 Jone number; space.

'i the operator;can-ascertain at: anytime -how many wash-ings the prints have been sub- 4 jected to by simply glancing at the number on the disc 34.

In use, the tank is placed in or over any suitable sink or drain to receive the water discharging from the tunnel tube I 1.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit'of the invention.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is: 11A photographic print washer comprising: a circular tank having a discharge opening in the middle of its bottom; hydraulically-actuated means for opening said discharge opening at predetermined intervals; a circular removable ind-perforate sub-bottom in said tank of less diameter than the latter; partition members extending radially from said discharge opening and supporting.- said sub-bottom above the bottom of said tank; a cylindrical screen arising ,fromythe peripheryv of said sub-bottomfln spaced relation toithe Wall ofx-said' tank; and means. for admitting water to said tank.

'2. A photographic print washer comprising: av circular tank having a discharge openin in the middle of its. bottom; hydraulically-actuatecl means for opening ,saidqd-ischarge opening at predetermined intervals; av circular removable sub-bottom in said'itahki-of less d-iameter than a plurality of relatively thin inclined water discharge slits formed insaid nozzle tube and directed downwardly toward said sub-bottom.

3-. A photographic print washer comprising: a circular tank having a discharge opening in the middle of'its bottom; hydraulically-actuated means for opening said discharge opening at-predetermined intervals; a circular removable subott in sa anker ess diameter t an the :latter; partition '2 members extending radially from said discharge opening and-supporting said sub-bottom above "th 'bottom: of sa d tank; a

cylindrical screen arising ifmm: the periphery. of said sub-bottom:in spaced relation-to the "wall of said tank; means 'for admitting Water to said tank; a nozzle tube extending downwardly into said tank adjacent the wall thereof; therebeing a vertical open space, in said screen andan opening. in said subebottomi-for thepassage of said nozzle tube and therebeing a. plurality of relativel thin inclined water dischargeslits formed in. said nozzle .tube :and directed downwardly toward said subebottomy and a..horizonta l.slit.in said nozzletube immediatelyahove said sub-bottom to direct a sheet .of water'over. the latter,

4. A photographieprint' washer comprising: a circular. tank having a central discharge opening in itsbottom; hydraulicallyeactuated means foropening said discharge opening at predetermined intervals; a .rernovable-imperforatesubbottom in said tank; .partition plates "extending radially from said discharge opening and support- 5 ing said sub-bottom above the bottom of said tank; an annular wire screen secured to and extending upwardly about said sub-bottom to form a wall thereabout; means for uniformly spacing said screen inwardly from the side wall of said tank; and means for admitting water to said tank.

5. A photographic print washer comprising: a circular tank having a central discharge opening in its bottom; hydraulically-actuated means for opening said discharge opening at predetermined intervals; a removable imperforate subbottom in said tank; radially extending partition plates supporting said sub-bottom above the bottom of said tank; an annular wire screen secured to and extending upwardly about said subthe side wall of said tank; and means for admitting water above said sub-bottom, said partition plates preventing swirling of the water below said sub-bottom.

CHARLES E. MACE.

REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 39,959 Ross Sept. 5, 1863 353,849 Entrekin Dec. 7, 1880 385,607 Ford July 3, 1388 527,599 Ensign Oct. 16, 1894 537,968 Dorticus Apr. 23, 1895 605,229 Leigh June 7, 1898 694,627 Glackin Mar. 1, 1902 1,006,278 Richardson Oct. 17, 1911 1,136,705 Nichols Apr 20, 1915 1,240,425 Grusey Sept. 18, 1917 2,105,165 Schnelz Jan. 11, 1938 2,141,162 Brandt Dec. 27, 1938 2,217,531 Werneth Oct, 8. 1940 

